EEOC Drops Transgender Discrimination Cases Following Trump Order

The agency cites a recent executive order redefining gender as binary, marking a significant shift in federal civil rights enforcement.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has moved to dismiss six workplace discrimination cases involving transgender and gender nonconforming employees, citing President Trump's January 20 executive order redefining gender as strictly male or female.
This decision represents a major departure from the EEOC's previous stance, which had supported protections for transgender workers under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act following the 2020 Supreme Court ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County.
Cases being dropped include allegations of harassment, misgendering, and inappropriate conduct by employers in industries ranging from fast food to hospitality and agriculture.
The EEOC has also ceased investigating new gender identity discrimination complaints and removed resources related to transgender rights from its website.
Critics, including former EEOC officials and LGBTQ+ advocacy groups, have condemned the move as discriminatory and an abdication of the agency's responsibility to protect vulnerable workers.